(Rocky and Jovan’s engagement pic, 3 years ago?)
Yes, today Rocky is almost exactly half my age!
We had a surprise party for him on Sunday night and were thrilled with all of the folks that showed up. Pics to follow on www.jeanierhoades.com
This is what I read to him before we ate.
Those of you that know me, understand our sentiment at birthdays…
(Rocky being Rocky at our Twilight release party, actually, being Jacob)
2009
To Rocky on his 25th birthday…
The Word says: Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth…
Son, you are a few months shy of being exactly ½ my age and most of the time I feel it! Rocky, you are full of vim, vigor and vitality. You are constantly asking me: “When are we going to start working out together? Want to go out running with me for about ten miles? Let’s do 9000 sit-ups together. Common, dad, how’s about you and me pumping about 3000 lbs. of iron. Want to do the PX90 workout until we puke?” Always with that little elbow in the side, looking out of the corner of your eye and clucking your tongue with that “Bob’s your uncle” sort of grin. And soon, I vow that we will be starting those routines together; yes if one puts it in print, then it must be true.
You, my son are a blessing to me.
I could go on for hours about you running around in short pants with your 1980’s mullet, playing with your Star Wars action figures that you called, “guys” or ripping the head off the life sized My Buddydoll and throwing its head in the closet because you thought it was watching you. In my mind’s eye I see you fighting with light sabers with Tredessa in the back yard and tormenting your sisters, a trait that you haven’t completely grown out of and now you have included Jovan in that little bit of fun.
But what is prevalent in my thoughts is crossing Acoma street with you to the neighbors to purchase a red and white guitar that was one step up from a Kmart special and a Gorilla amp not much bigger than your Xbox. And I remember your commitment to never again allow your voice to be silenced from praise.
I flash forward to you coming home to Terra Vista from work at Discount Tire, black uniform, covered with grime and smelling like tires. And after, or maybe even before a shower, heading to your room in the basement and I would hear you standing in the stairwell that you claimed had the best acoustics in the house, and beginning to worship. And I tell you again as I have told you before, I miss hearing you singing full voice, lungs raw, praises to the Lord.
We’ve come a little ways now from the stairwell but I can still, on any given Sunday, enjoy you leading hundreds into the presence of God and once a year, with Heavenfest, tens of thousands.
I’m proud of you son.
Not a haughty, arrogant, self-righteous, pat myself on the back for raising such a wonderful son, type of pride; but an honor and privilege to know you, not only as my son but my friend. A privilege to have you lead me into His presence.
You are a man of character, a man of love for your family and friends, a man of loyalty, a man of worship and a man of meekness.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
And your meekness will make way of you.
I see the way that you interact with those who are over you in the Lord and those who you lead and your meekness precedes you.
“Rocky Rhoades is the type of guy that would give you the shirt off his back… He always goes out of his way to be an encouragement and help…”
You are a man of meekness and always remember, you are promised to inherit the earth. A man in whom there is no gile.
I love you son.
I bless you. You are my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased. And so I bless you. I bless your coming in and your going out. I bless your talent and ability. I bless your heart for God. I bless your heart for people. I bless you and Jovan and Averi and the next Rhoades little-one whomever he or she may be. I bless your household. I bless your music and your worship. I bless your voice, let it always be a voice that brings people closer to Him and into His presence. Let it be a voice for your generation and when all is said and done and you have sung the last note and plucked the final string, let it be said of my son, Rocky the same as your namesake…
…For when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep and was buried with his fathers…And let me leave you with my favorite quote from George Bernard Shaw: The reasonable man adapts himself to the world.The unreasonable man persists in adapting the world to himself.Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man.Because balanced men never changed history. My son, fulfill the purpose that God has set before you and change history.I love you.Happy 25th birthday…Xxoodad
(Rocky and Jovan this year at Heavenfest, heading up one of the modules)
(And our little Averi, Rocky and Jovan’s first born, and a little brother or sister on the way!)